Title: Training Camp
Author: Daine Artillo
E-mail: atia@crosswinds.net
Rating: PG
Chapter V: Delight and Disappointment
Endymion sat in the lunch room, all the while watching
Serena. For the past few weeks, she had said nothing
to him; in fact, she had avoided him completely. He
sighed deeply, knowing the reason why.
Endymion watched Serena
pick at her food. She had always been slender, and in
good health, but now she looked a sickly white. Beryl
sat across from her, trying to make conversation, but
eventually also became silent.
Endymion was known throughout the kingdom for never having
a way with words, or with feelings. To apologize to someone
was a rare event, such as a shooting star.
He strode across the room, oblivious to all the staring faces
around him. Beryl noticed him at once, but said nothing.
Serena didn't seem to notice anything until the Prince cleared
his throat.
Looking up, Serena saw the person she didn't want to see at the
moment.
"Serena, I..."
"Please, Endymion, not now..." All spark of life seemed to be
gone from Serena's eyes.
"But..."
"Please..." Serena's voice was now pleading.
Unable to resist her request, Endymion left.
****
On the Moon:
Queen Serenity sat in the throne room discussing various matters
with her court. Among those in the room were the Sailor Senshi.
"No," Queen Serenity said with a motion of her hand, "we must..."
As she paused in mid sentence, she appeared to be listening to
something far away. All in the room watched the Queen,
wanting to know what had caused such a reaction. With a gasp,
the Queen collapsed. Panic set foot in the throne room.
The Senshi took immediate action. Jupiter ran over to the Queen
to see if she would need a healer. Mercury analyzed the Queen's
condition. Mars and Venus got the rest of the crowd of the
throne room.
"Mercury, do you know what's wrong?" A worried Venus asked.
"I don't know," Mercury stated, "but it seems to be sever
effects of..."
Mars didn't pay attention to the rest of what Mercury said.
She walked up to the Queen and knelt before her. Queen Serenity
opened her eyes slightly and mumbled.
"Serena..."
Hearing that, Mars leaned closer to catch the Queen's words.
"Serena, there is such danger...."
"Queen Serenity, may we go to Earth?"
"Yes..." the Queen replied stuggling to sit up. Mercury,
Jupiter, and Venus walked over quickly to Queen Serenity. "The
time for arms may come soon. I want all of you to go to Earth and
improve your skills," the Queen looked all of them in the eye
before continuing. "Train hard. It may determine the fate
of the battles you will fight. Please remember to be careful.
Watch out for your friends and for yourselves," Queen Serenity
said before slipping from consciousness.
Sailormars stood up. "Let's go to Earth."
****
During free time in the camp, Serena sat around and moped.
She seemed unable to draw herself from the depression she was
now in.
With strong determination, she rose to the sound of horns
that signaled the trainees to head over to the training grounds.
It was the time of the year when the late recruits would sign
up for training.
Reaching the training grounds, Serena made certain to stand as
far away from Endymion as possible. Not really wanting to face
anyone, she stared at the ground.
The generals turned to address the group of trainees.
"As you know," said Kunzite, "today we'll be getting the new
trainees in. You are to go easy on them..."
"Darn." came a miscellaneous voice from the crowd. Glaring,
Kunzite continued.
"...and to help them in all means possible. Let me remind you of
that there is strict punishment for those who don't obey."
"First rule, never listen to General Kunzite!"
"ALL TRAINEES who do not respect these boundaries and limits will be
given sentry duty. There are ALREADY some who are getting there."
"*Gulp*"
"Now please applaud the new trainees."
Among the loud clapping, there were a few boos followed by
glares from Kunzite. In walked a group of people ranging in
age from 10-16. Some were bold and easy going while others were
shy and uncertain. Finally when the clapping had died down, Serena
looked closer at the faces in the crowd that had caught her attention.
"OH &*%$^%#!! It's the Senshi!!!"
("Where did the Princess learn those words, Jupiter?" asked Mars.
"I'm sure I don't know, but...don't blow our cover, REI!"
"OW!" ::pain::)
Not noticing she had said the sentence out loud until she had gained
curious looks from the people around her, she pointed behind her
while making circles around her head.
(Translation: "The person behind me is crazy!)
Turning around, she saw that the person behind her was none other
than Beryl. Seeing flames engulfed the surrounding area, she
said hastily, "Gotta go meet those new recruits; you know, make
the Generals happy! Bye!"
Struggling her way through the crowd, she felt someone grab her
arm. She turned and saw none other than...
"Endymion!"
"Serena, can I talk to you?"
"It's not the best time, I'm trying to..."
Her sentence was cut short by a tap on her shoulder. She again
turned her head and saw more people she did not particularly want
to see.
"Serenit...um...Serena, is this _person_ bothering you?" Makoto
asked, eyeing Endymion warily.
Smiling slightly, the princess did her best puppy dog face.
"Yeah, Mako, he won't leave me alone."
That was all Makoto needed to hear. She took the surprised Earth
Prince's hand off of Serena's arm and escorted him away from her
charge.
"What are you doing here?" Serena whispered to Ami.
"We'll have to explain it to you when there aren't so many people
around." Ami replied, listening in an amused manner to Endymion and
Makoto bickering.
"Meanwhile, Serena, why don't you introduce us to your very hot
generals?"
Ami, Rei, and Serena got sweatdrops while Minako went off to make
herself know to General Kunzite standing near by.
Dragging away from his argument with the Amazonian Makoto, Endymion
walked over to Serena who seemed to be enjoying herself.
"So, Serena, how did you meet these...charming ladies?"
Whirling around, Serena searched him before answering.
"I really don't think that's any of your business, Prince."
With that, Serena turned away from the stunned Endymion and walked with
a majority of the Senshi (Minako trying to keep a desperate Kunzite
from escaping) to her room.
****
Author's notes:
I got Chapter 4 out! ::everyone faints in shock:: I am so
sorry for taking so long. For everyone who wants to hear lame
excuses, I was engaged in a battle between writer's block and real
life. I won (sort of...*mental picture of real life and writer's
block dragging her back kicking and screaming*)
Anyway, I have no idea when Chapter 5 will make it's appearance
because I don't know when I can sit myself down and write again.
Usually people have to force me to sit down, pick up the pen, and
write (*mental image of a mob of people making Daine write*), but
you don't have to do that! ^_^;;
I guess I'll leave saying that one last reason that I'm not writing
too much is because I'm making up all sorts of stories that are
*gasp,shock* original. But I haven't written those yet either...
I thank all of you who wrote me (some more than once), even though
I couldn't reply and didn't get the story out that soon. I can't
reply to e-mails anymore for certain reasons, but when I get that
web page that I keep talking about up, you can write me there where
I CAN reply in the E-mail Archive.
Also, thanks to May-chan and to SM Romance for posting!
-Daine